I wanted to write a hospitable story, one that would welcome children into a new world where they would find good things. I wanted to honor them, their intelligence and imagination, and give them just a spark of light, contributing (I hoped) to eventual fires I would likely never know about.
What I set out to give, I have received.
And I’m profoundly grateful.
I’m so grateful for Sarah Mackenzie and the amazing community at the Read Aloud Revival. The podcast is amazing, and I can 
say I was a fan before I was ever a guest. The Green Ember and Black Star were both among their favorite read-alouds. That’s such a huge honor. The RAR community has been an unbelievable source of encouragement for me.
Really, the RAR family is just the largest and most identifiable portion of the incredible audience who have honored me by reading my books. It is hard to describe–really, it’s difficult to even properly process–what this year has been like for me. An easy year? No. A year full of joyful firsts? Yes. A year that I’ll always remember with fondness and gratitude? Definitely.
I like to joke about being an “Award-Losing Author.” That’s not all about covertly bragging about being a finalist for some award I’m genuinely amazed to be considered for. Authors are just like other people, hungry for affirmation and fearful of being rejected. Since authors often do this “being a person” thing in public, it can be awkward pathetic sad challenging.
I want my value and identity to always be rooted in the risen Christ. I don’t want my life to be anchored in the approval or praise of others, but I’ll just say that sometimes it sure can do a feller good.
So I just want to say thank you to those of you who have been so generous and hospitable to me this past year. Thanks for giving my stories a chance. Thanks for reviewing on Amazon/Audible, sharing my books in blog posts or in person, subscribing to my newsletter, writing me encouraging emails or letters, and in so many other ways making this inaugural year of my authoring adventure one I will cherish all my life.
So, while I joke about losing awards, I have genuinely been given the best acclaim an author can covet. You. Readers. Allies. Advocates.
Friends.
I thank God in heaven for you all.
Happy Christmas!
–Sam
We are loving The Green Ember – savoring it! And my boy said “oh it will be read again mum”. Thank you for inspiring us. Ps a tutorial on how to make a star for star seek would make a six year old happy 😉 he he he. We play it, though my star keeps breaking. Have a blessed Christmas and New Year. Tara.
Thanks for sharing that with me, Tara! That is encouraging. 🙂
A star-seek tutorial would be nice. We made one recently as well and it was so-so. I wonder if anyone has mastered it. If I find it, I’ll pass it on!
Thanks again!
Master the Star for Star-Seek!!! Energetic children everywhere want one that works! I’ll be Heather!
🙂 Lydia
We are half way through reading the Green Ember. Last night as my kids were vehemently protesting the fact that I had closed the book for the night, my 8 year old daughter suddenly gasped and took the book from my hand saying “this book doesn’t have a Newbery Medal?” After she couldn’t locate the silver symbol anywhere she asserted “well it should!”
Ha! That’s quite a compliment. Maybe she could smear some new berries on the cover and I shall deem it a crowning achievement. 🙂